<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <style>

  span { color:blue; font-weight:bold; }
  button { width:100px; }
  </style>
  <script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-latest.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
  <div><button disabled="disabled">First</button> - <span>this button is disabled</span></div>
  <div><button>Second</button> - <span></span></div>

  <div><button disabled="disabled">Third</button> - <span>this button is disabled</span></div>
<script>$("button[disabled]").next().text("this button is disabled");</script>

</body>
</html>